The only casting that I have disliked so far has been Mance Raydor. The books really set him up as this character with a lot of roguish charm and flair. Ciaran Hinds plays him as just another grumpy old man beyond the wall.

I've mentioned it before, but I am not really in love with Lena Headey's Cersei. I think she plays her too quiet, hunched over and reserved. I don't read her that way and don't see her that way. This is someone who is desperate for attention and affection. I see her stronger vocally and physically - not actually larger, but stronger body language. I also don't see why they couldn't find a real blonde. Headey is ok, but her performances aren't very powerful. The closest I've liked is when she threatens Littlefinger and when she's speaking to Sansa during the siege of King's Landing. I wish she was like that all the time.

I definitely disagree with this and think that the natural progression will prove you wrong. Cersei wasn't as strong a character in the early going as she was after gaining more confidence later on - except in the instances you mention, when she was drunk during the siege. It really wasn't until she felt threatened by Margaery and the Tyrell family that she started to really spread her wings and flex her power openly.

With this last episode, we start to see the seed of her thoughts about her place in her family, and I think with each episode, we'll see that seed grow and get stronger, and she'll become a very powerful presence in the show.

Finally some action here in season 3. After finishing the book last year I've been very impatient for this season... I read the "info" for next weeks episode and I am excited. I shouldn't of done that. haha

I replayed the last 10 minutes of this past episode about 10 times. It was bad arse. Dracarys!

I definitely disagree with this and think that the natural progression will prove you wrong. Cersei wasn't as strong a character in the early going as she was after gaining more confidence later on - except in the instances you mention, when she was drunk during the siege. It really wasn't until she felt threatened by Margaery and the Tyrell family that she started to really spread her wings and flex her power openly.

With this last episode, we start to see the seed of her thoughts about her place in her family, and I think with each episode, we'll see that seed grow and get stronger, and she'll become a very powerful presence in the show.

Martin doesn't say she's hunched over all the time like an old crone barely whispering her words. If anything that makes more sense later when she puts on weight because she's become a drunk.

Headey's Cercei is basically exactly how I imagined her while reading. I've loved the casting so far, but do agree that Mance is a bit stuffy. SPOILER: ( Maybe we'll get to see another side of him when he's not leading thousands upon thousands of people away from one certain death towards another.

On a different note, what is going on with Roz/Varys/Olenna discovering Littlefinger's plans for Sansa? Change in plot coming? )

That fight scene was good, but overall more non-action. Looks like they're saving everything for the end of the season. weak.

I don't understand this criticism at all. You want them to pack everything into one episode or something? They've got a lot of ground and character development to cover, and they're doing a fine job of it. I'm not finding "action" to be something in short supply.

The first half of book two is setting up the climactic roller coaster, I guess you have to understand literature to get the point. From this point forward the story will get pretty crazy, but this season is all about set up.